As a start to the girls tennis season, each tennis player played a match of challenges against each other to establish rankings and help create teams like duos and trios and who they should be partnered with. These challenges are a way to find a way on who’s going to be on varsity and who will end up on JV.
This is the first time in years where the first three single players have been the same three single players for three consecutive years. This helps build up a strong foundation for the girls tennis team. This helps bring a very competitive environment to have the girls play at their highest skill level. “You get the chance to play and show us that you earned your spot,” tennis coach Ryan Pace said.
Six girls challenged for singles this year, where the top 4 will all play each other. With singles, there is a No. 1 singles player for each year and this year, senior Piper Clancy had worked hard and made No. 1 singles player two years in a row. “I feel like I still had to prove to myself that I’m still at the same level,” Clancy mentioned.
For many players, challenge matches are a way for past players or new players to show off their ability and prove to coaches and players where they are at on a skill level. It gives coaches the chance to see players one on one against teammates and helps the team grow together rather than individually.
Its a time for returning players to show growth towards coaches and hopefully find new or better placement with other players. New opportunities are made with challenge matches and it builds up that excitement and competition between players.
As returning players come back, some are looking for new opportunities with new partners to create better skill work between each other and build closer and better bonds. “I’m just hoping to figure out who I work with best and having a good partner who I can communicate with better,” junior Hailey Ratliff said.
